Preview — Heart of Light
by Sarah A. Hoyt

Set in a magical Victorian British Empire that never was, this unique fantasy blends adventure, intrigue, and romance, as a newlywed couple embark on a dangerous quest--and, in the process, discover their own heart's desires. On a luxury magic carpetship in 1889, an English couple travel to Cairo for their honeymoon. Except for a brush with a dragon, the voyage is uneventfSet in a magical Victorian British Empire that never was, this unique fantasy blends adventure, intrigue, and romance, as a newlywed couple embark on a dangerous quest--and, in the process, discover their own heart's desires. On a luxury magic carpetship in 1889, an English couple travel to Cairo for their honeymoon. Except for a brush with a dragon, the voyage is uneventful. But for Nigel Oldhall and his beautiful Indian-born bride, Emily, the holiday hides another purpose. Within hours of arriving in the teeming city, they are plunged into an extraordinary struggle among demons, murderers, and magic. In Cairo, Nigel can no longer hide his secret from his wife: he is on a mission to rescue a ruby that will ensure Queen Victoria's hold on Africa forever. But the search has already swallowed up Nigel's older brother--and now it has put his own Emily in mortal danger. But is she the innocent Nigel imagines? Soon, separately and apart, the two will set off for the heart of the continent among conspirators and traitors, all seeking the ruby and the gifts and curses it offers them--and all of humankind.......more

Community Reviews

I wanted to like this book. I really did. But I've got the same issue with it that I did with Jane Lindskold's The Buried Pyramid: i.e., loved the concept, but the execution? Not so much.

And as with The Buried Pyramid, what pulled me in was the idea of an alternate history settings where the British Empire was pretty much like we expect, only there's magic. And supernatural things. And lots of potential for the magic of Europe and the magic of Africa to clash and make things go very, very differI wanted to like this book. I really did. But I've got the same issue with it that I did with Jane Lindskold's The Buried Pyramid: i.e., loved the concept, but the execution? Not so much.

And as with The Buried Pyramid, what pulled me in was the idea of an alternate history settings where the British Empire was pretty much like we expect, only there's magic. And supernatural things. And lots of potential for the magic of Europe and the magic of Africa to clash and make things go very, very differently on the African continent than they did in real life.

But the biggest thing that stood in the way of me liking this book is this: it was a lot more "romance novel thinly disguised as alternate history fantasy" than it was "alternate history fantasy". Now, I might not have minded that--if there also hadn't been the problem that the biggest thing driving the conflict of the plot is one of the biggest things I hate about many romances, i.e., The Big Misunderstanding. In other words, we have characters here who start off making wildly unwarranted assumptions about each other, and they never once actually confront one another about them. Instead, they spend most of the book glowering silently at one another and continuing a chain of bad assumptions, each one more vexing to me than the last, because they're all issues that could have been solved with one good fight to clear the air and let everybody get on with the actual plot.

And don't get me wrong, there is plot here. Aside from The Big Misunderstanding that motivates the central characters, there's halfway decent character development otherwise. It's just marred for me as a reader because the maturation of the involved parties feels forced.

There's also the bigger picture plot of why exactly our principle characters are searching through Africa for the fabled magical gem Heart of Light. Like the character arcs in play here, the bigger plot has a few interesting things going on, but they're marred by a resolution that felt too predictable to me. Had the bigger picture plot gone in as unusual a direction as the characters' various arcs did, I would have liked it more.

I can't fault Ms. Hoyt's worldbuilding; certainly the details she's worked in of how the various nations of the world have handled magic are interesting. So's the overall perception of dragons and other were-creatures. She does more than once throughout the book have some lovely turns of phrase. But overall this wasn't enough to counteract the unsatisfying character portrayals for me. Two stars....more

This is an enchanting alternate-historical fantasy, set in the Victorian era on an Earth where magic is an accepted fact of life and people cross the ocean not on ships but on magic carpets. Once I got past the opening scene (a wedding night that...er...isn't), I quickly got engrossed even though I anticipated pretty much all of the major twists.

It was a fun read, with only one real major drawback, but that because of a personal preference that not everyone will share--I have *major* issues witThis is an enchanting alternate-historical fantasy, set in the Victorian era on an Earth where magic is an accepted fact of life and people cross the ocean not on ships but on magic carpets. Once I got past the opening scene (a wedding night that...er...isn't), I quickly got engrossed even though I anticipated pretty much all of the major twists.

It was a fun read, with only one real major drawback, but that because of a personal preference that not everyone will share--I have *major* issues with romanticizing adultery so the book lost me a little when that came into it. Nevertheless, it sucked me in enough that I absolutely intend to pick up second and third books in the trilogy--Soul of Fire, Heart and Soul--when they're released.

If you like Patricia Wrede and Carole Stevemyer's Sorcery and Cecilia series, or Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty trilogy, then this is definitely worth a read....more

Snatching this story up after binging deleriously on Naomi Novik's superb series, I found myself taking three weeks to finally finish reading this start to a trilogy. The characters felt flat and unsympathetic - the kind of people that I would avoid engaging in discussion. The integration of magic into the world felt hinged upon one interesting idea but with no extrapolation or exploration.

Sarah Hoyt is like the Dan Brown of fantasy. She wove a pretty interesting plot but each chapter absolutely had to end on a cliff hanger...ie: "Then there was a chilling scream" or "Then darkness closed in and they were alone in the desert." Ugh. Such un-subtle writing. But, it really was a pretty entertaining story although it certainly could have used more descriptions of Egypt. That and the over-emphasis on Victorian English values was a little odd..."he saw that she was entertaining a gentleSarah Hoyt is like the Dan Brown of fantasy. She wove a pretty interesting plot but each chapter absolutely had to end on a cliff hanger...ie: "Then there was a chilling scream" or "Then darkness closed in and they were alone in the desert." Ugh. Such un-subtle writing. But, it really was a pretty entertaining story although it certainly could have used more descriptions of Egypt. That and the over-emphasis on Victorian English values was a little odd..."he saw that she was entertaining a gentleman caller while sitting alone in the parlor!" Cue dramatic music. ...more

Ugh. I just can't seem to get through this book. And I ALWAYS finish a book through to the end. But at 350-odd pages in, it's just so annoying. It's like bad High School with the mistaken ideas about people and the she loves him but he loves someone else junk.

Example:Mr. thinks Mrs. is cheating. So Mr. starts fawning over an African woman. Said African woman is attracted to another African man. But the African man is drawn to the Mrs. The Mrs. thinks Mr. is cheating with the African woman and soUgh. I just can't seem to get through this book. And I ALWAYS finish a book through to the end. But at 350-odd pages in, it's just so annoying. It's like bad High School with the mistaken ideas about people and the she loves him but he loves someone else junk.

Example:Mr. thinks Mrs. is cheating. So Mr. starts fawning over an African woman. Said African woman is attracted to another African man. But the African man is drawn to the Mrs. The Mrs. thinks Mr. is cheating with the African woman and so decides to try to seduce Mr's friend. Meanwhile, nobody talks about ANY of their mistaken impressions AT ALL.

SO ANNOYING.

The book is SUPPOSED to be about a harrowing trip through Africa to find this magical gem. But the trip is the barest of window dressing for chapter after chapter of this aggravating romance tragedy.

The concept and the world is interesting but not enough to hold my interest nor keep me from rolling my eyes in sheer annoyance at the story itself....more

I quit half-way through this book, when it became clear that the author was going to milk the relationship tension between two of the main characters all the way through and that she felt no need to base that tension on anything other than their apparent inability to communicate with each other. I gave it the two stars for decent descriptive writing and world building.

It's hard to review this when another reviewer (Angela Korra'ti) said exactly what I wanted to say, but I'll take a few minutes and try anyway. This book is not an alternate history or a fantasy or an adventure, at the end of the day it is 100% romance. I'd don't especially mind reading a book driven by romance considering one of the better books I read recently, Soulless, turned out to be a romance novel veiled as sci fi, and it was much moreOne of the most frustrating books I've read in a bit.

It's hard to review this when another reviewer (Angela Korra'ti) said exactly what I wanted to say, but I'll take a few minutes and try anyway. This book is not an alternate history or a fantasy or an adventure, at the end of the day it is 100% romance. I'd don't especially mind reading a book driven by romance considering one of the better books I read recently, Soulless, turned out to be a romance novel veiled as sci fi, and it was much more successful at blending themes/genre/plot than this book and was infinitely more enjoyable, as well. But Heart of Light bothered me because the rest of the plot - specifically the quest for the gem in the jungles of Africa - was almost completely forgotten for long stretches in favor of rather boring inner monologues by characters complaining about other characters. As I said, I don't mind the romance, but when a plot seems like it was thrown in offhandedly (not to mention haphazardly, in this case) to give the author some fodder for the 10 chapters that aren't about cheap marital spats I realize I'd rather be reading something else. ANYTHING else, really.

Yes, it's a 'big misunderstanding' book, something which drives me absolutely insane. Rather than confront one another over said misunderstandings, the characters would rather brood for hundreds of pages at a time. It's incredibly frustrating and juvenile. You get a ton of glaring and sneering from husbands at wives and vice versa because someone took an offhand comment the wrong way. Please. Aren't these characters supposed to be adults?

I'd like to try and take longer to have this review be more coherent and better organized, but I honestly don't even care that much. I stopped reading this book nearly 300 pages in (300 pages!) because I was so terribly annoyed and disappointed. Heart of Light looked so wonderfully promising. Sadly, it turned out to be a resounding flop....more

Ugh, where to start with this book. In my humble opinion, it sucks. Yes, it is a regency romance of sorts – but the main married couple aren't all that interested in each other and are both highly annoying characters. (view spoiler)[So, think this through with me: it is a romance where the couple that you think should be in love aren't. Never are. Never were meant to be together, yet that is how they are introduced. That is a huge fail in my book.. (hide spoiler)]

But to continue on to other thinUgh, where to start with this book. In my humble opinion, it sucks. Yes, it is a regency romance of sorts – but the main married couple aren't all that interested in each other and are both highly annoying characters. (view spoiler)[So, think this through with me: it is a romance where the couple that you think should be in love aren't. Never are. Never were meant to be together, yet that is how they are introduced. That is a huge fail in my book.. (hide spoiler)]

But to continue on to other things done wrong: almost all the characters are annoying (except for the guy who can turn into a dragon, he rocks) and spend large chunks basically going "woe is me, my life sucks". The concept of using large magic carpets as commercial airlines is great, but it doesn't make up for this book. DRAGONS don't even save this book. Hell, a Victorian Africa as a setting doesn't save this book.

(view spoiler)[By the end of the book, I was thrilled the main couple split – but the reasons for it was so odd, so driven by other plots, and not well thought out that it seemed rather too convenient. (hide spoiler)] In fact, most of the plot didn't seem all that thought out...

Sadly disappointing for a book that seemed to promise adventure...["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>...more

The first half of this book was really different and engrossing, but it lost me about three quarters of the way in when the main characters found themselves trekking through the desserts of Africa. I did care enough to skim the rest, and probably will pick up the sequel anyhow.

In brief, this is an unusual romantic fantasy dealing with an alternate Regency era where there's magic, dragons, and the monarchs of Europe have the most magic due to a stone Charlemagne had stolen. The Queen wants its twThe first half of this book was really different and engrossing, but it lost me about three quarters of the way in when the main characters found themselves trekking through the desserts of Africa. I did care enough to skim the rest, and probably will pick up the sequel anyhow.

In brief, this is an unusual romantic fantasy dealing with an alternate Regency era where there's magic, dragons, and the monarchs of Europe have the most magic due to a stone Charlemagne had stolen. The Queen wants its twin to ensure that Africa never rebels, and sends a newlywed man, and his bride, to Africa for this purpose. The bride doesn't know of this, and there's a secret African society who wants to stop them... Throw in newlywed misunderstandings and confusion, a dragon, dark magic, inappropriate lust, and angels and gods thrown into the mix, and you get a small sense of what to expect.

Definitely give it a try if any of the above sounds intriguing....more

After starting this book over a month ago I was so disenchanted with it I set it aside and read dozens of other books. I finally picked it up again today and skipped ahead to see if it was worth finishing. It turned out okay. Although the British "heroine" was silly and wishy washy about which guy to throw herself at at any given time. The love triangle was more of a pyramid. I had some sympathy for her troubles and she had some redeeming qualities. Still the African heroine was far more enjoyabAfter starting this book over a month ago I was so disenchanted with it I set it aside and read dozens of other books. I finally picked it up again today and skipped ahead to see if it was worth finishing. It turned out okay. Although the British "heroine" was silly and wishy washy about which guy to throw herself at at any given time. The love triangle was more of a pyramid. I had some sympathy for her troubles and she had some redeeming qualities. Still the African heroine was far more enjoyable to identify with. The three heroes actually all turned out flawed but heroic. I am looking forward to the next book. I have hopes the new heroine may be less annoying....more

Known for her diversity, the Portugal-born Sarah A. Hoyt has written dozens of short stories and several novels including the SHAKESPEAREAN FANTASIES series, the MUSKETEER MYSTERY books, and the SHIFTERS urban fantasy series. She has also written a historical romance under the pseudonym Laurien Gardner, a collaborative novel with SF author Eric Flint, and co-edits the forthcoming anthology Something Magic This Way Comes (below).

In Ms. Hoyt’s MAGICAL BRITISH EMPIRE series, which kicks off with HeKnown for her diversity, the Portugal-born Sarah A. Hoyt has written dozens of short stories and several novels including the SHAKESPEAREAN FANTASIES series, the MUSKETEER MYSTERY books, and the SHIFTERS urban fantasy series. She has also written a historical romance under the pseudonym Laurien Gardner, a collaborative novel with SF author Eric Flint, and co-edits the forthcoming anthology Something Magic This Way Comes (below).

In Ms. Hoyt’s MAGICAL BRITISH EMPIRE series, which kicks off with Heart of Light, the author introduces an alternate nineteenth century era where magic not only exists, but is an integral part of life. For instance, while the world may f... Read More:http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi......more

When I saw that this was a Magical Victorian era novel and took place in Africa....I figured that this was right up my alley. I even enjoyed the writing style...at first. However, this novel contains the biggest batch of whiny, annoying characters I have ever had the mispleasure to read about. I did finish it. And once having finished it, I did realize that the author was attempting to show the characters growth. I dont think that she quite achieved it though. Instead, the characters just seemedWhen I saw that this was a Magical Victorian era novel and took place in Africa....I figured that this was right up my alley. I even enjoyed the writing style...at first. However, this novel contains the biggest batch of whiny, annoying characters I have ever had the mispleasure to read about. I did finish it. And once having finished it, I did realize that the author was attempting to show the characters growth. I dont think that she quite achieved it though. Instead, the characters just seemed weak and annoying. Most of the plot seemed to revolve around the insecurities of the characters. The book would have been a lot better served if it had a stronger plot and perhaps a bit more depth in the world building. ...more

The idea of this alternate reality is good, the dialogue, characters, buildup excellent. But theres just something missing that i cant put my finger on. It feels as hollow and empty as the set of the Fantastiks, that all the players are cavorting on a thinly painted backdrop that keeps fading to 'theoretical white'. Maybe its just because its the first volume of a series, & hopefully book 2 will be better. (i also have to admit to being irritated with the romantic mishaps in the middle of thThe idea of this alternate reality is good, the dialogue, characters, buildup excellent. But theres just something missing that i cant put my finger on. It feels as hollow and empty as the set of the Fantastiks, that all the players are cavorting on a thinly painted backdrop that keeps fading to 'theoretical white'. Maybe its just because its the first volume of a series, & hopefully book 2 will be better. (i also have to admit to being irritated with the romantic mishaps in the middle of the book. the plot depended on them, yes yes i understand, but it made me think less of all the characters and made me not want to finish the book... but i did and alls well that ends well sure you betcha.)...more

This was a fun read once it picked up, but it took a bit to get going. I rather liked the main characters more at the end than at the beginning, which is a good sign for character development. I'll be looking for the sequel.

Recommended for people who like Victoriana, and don't mind period characters having period attitudes towards things like race and gender (at least to start with). There is one fade-to-black sex scene, but otherwise there's nothing I wouldn't let a sensible 13+ year old read.This was a fun read once it picked up, but it took a bit to get going. I rather liked the main characters more at the end than at the beginning, which is a good sign for character development. I'll be looking for the sequel.

Recommended for people who like Victoriana, and don't mind period characters having period attitudes towards things like race and gender (at least to start with). There is one fade-to-black sex scene, but otherwise there's nothing I wouldn't let a sensible 13+ year old read. (There's some violence, but nothing terribly gory.)...more

This book was a wow book. I found it full of randomness and a bit patchy on characters. It seems like it should have been a larger volume because some of the plot seems rushed. I had to re-read a few sections due to the fact that the author seems to be building up to something and ends it in one sentence! I give it three stars because it definitely was inventive and was a fun read at times. I hope the next two books are better though.

I put this in "steampunk" though it's not really - it feels a bit steampunk.I love the worldbuilding here. I find the main characters not likeable enough though - there's something lacking. I don't know if this was written as a romance; it seems marketed as one - but as a romance I was unconvinced by the "true love" proffered.I am eager to read the sequel as the supporting characters were interesting and the story follows them.

This book was definitely a disappointment for me. I don't give it only 1 star because I think that at least it was well written and extremely readable as far as style is concerned. I wanted to really like it, Victorian age + magic + dragons, what's not to like...actually the book. It never really captured me and much as I dislike leaving a series unfinished, I very much doubt I'll ever buy the second installment.

A decent story - who wouldn't love flying carpetships? But sometimes the characters' internal conflicts seemed a little heavy and I found myself skipping--in most cases when Emily and Nigel kept reminding themselves of society's expectations of them. I think I will still read the next one, though, because the characters just might have freed themselves enough to really be interesting.

Nice example of a Victorian-era, African-set paranormal historical romance. Heavy on the paranormal and lighter on the history, with a lot to explore regarding racism and colonialism in the late British Empire. A thoroughly enjoyable read filled with magic carpetships, Victorian drawing room manners, African safari and a nice romantic subplot. The sequel is Soul of Fire.